[23:14] David stayed in hiding in the hill country, in the wilderness near Ziph. Saul was always trying to find him, but God did not turn David over to him.
[23:15] David saw that Saul was out to kill him. David was at Horesh, in the wilderness near Ziph.
[23:16] Jonathan went to him there and encouraged him with assurances of God's protection,
[23:17] saying to him, “Don't be afraid. My father Saul won't be able to harm you. He knows very well that you are the one who will be the king of Israel and that I will be next in rank to you.”
[23:18] The two of them made a sacred promise of friendship to each other. David stayed at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
[23:19] Some people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is hiding out in our territory at Horesh on Mount Hachilah, in the southern part of the Judean wilderness.
[23:20] We know, Your Majesty, how much you want to capture him; so come to our territory, and we will make sure that you catch him.”
[23:21] Saul answered, “May the Lord bless you for being so kind to me!
[23:22] Go and make sure once more; find out for certain where he is and who has seen him there. I hear that he is very cunning.
[23:23] Find out exactly the places where he hides, and be sure to bring back a report to me right away. Then I will go with you, and if he is still in the region, I will hunt him down, even if I have to search the whole land of Judah.”
[23:24] So they left and returned to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in a desolate valley in the southern part of the Judean wilderness.
[23:25] Saul and his men set out to look for David, but he heard about it and went to a rocky hill in the wilderness of Maon and stayed there. When Saul heard about this, he went after David.
[23:26] Saul and his men were on one side of the hill, separated from David and his men, who were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul and his men, who were closing in on them and were about to capture them.
[23:27] Just then a messenger arrived and said to Saul, “Come back at once! The Philistines are invading the country!”
[23:28] So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why that place is called Separation Hill.
[23:29] David left and went to the region of Engedi, where he stayed in hiding.